The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-08-19
Danbury's Dummy.
A MAN WHO Is ABLE TO CONVERSE WITH
ONLY TWO LIVING PERSONS.

A MAN WHO Is ABLE TO CONVERSE WITH
ONLY TWO LIVING PERSONS.
For some time the prominent inter-
est of the old Connecticut town, Dan
bury, has oentered in resident who is,
from a physiological and psychological
view, wonder. His strangeness,
says correspondent of the Chicago
Times, can only be accounted for in
light of maternal ante-Datal exper-
ience, which seems to influenced all his
biological phenomena. John Tice, or
dummy" as he is generally called,
aged about fifty, resides on Dearhill
avenue, IN the eastern part of Dan
bury. He is farm hand. Engaged
most of the time in the service of Mrs.
Ryder, who resides at Main and South
streets, and owns farm in the out
skirts. "Dummy's' sobrique indi-
Gates less than half truth, for he con-
verses readily enough with two per-
sons, but is absolutely unable to talk
to any one else on earth. This state
ment necessitates retrospect. "Dum'
my's" mother, according to undispu ed
testimony, was amazonian, infexible,
vindictive, inrelenting. Her animos
tiles were as bitter as her friendships
were enduring. Her husband was
sbiftless, inuolent and poor provider,
and bibulous, often arousing her wrath.
About six months before "Dummy's'
birth her husband committed an act so
heinous in her eyes as fairly to stifle
the accustomed torrent of vituperation.
In her fury she could only sulk and
humble and grind her teeth. Finally
her suppressed rage found vent in a
single sentence
"You brute III never speak to you
again to my dying day 2"
Until after the birth of her child she
nursed her wrath and KEEP. her word.
She spoke indeed, to no one except to
her mother, to her friends, Mrs. Nc
Cam, a young widow, and the latter's
little daughter. The Nemesis that had
pursued "Dummy' through life first
manifested its presence in infancy.
When alone with Mrs. McCann, or her
daughter, Johnny was able without
any more difficulty than other children
of his age 10 frame words and unite
them into sentences, but to everybody
else the child was utterly unable to ar
ticulate. He was never able, try as he
might, to speak a word to his father.
As he could not recite any thing he
was not sent to school. He can not
read or write. A party of roughs some
time ago, believing that he could, but
would not converse, inveigled him to a
secluded spot and threatened him with
death if he did not speak to them and
answer their questions. He could not
plead in dumb SLOW for his life. Then
they beat aAG fearfully maltreated him,
fully convinced at last that he was not
shamming. After his mother's death
he married one of the two remaining
persons he could talk to, the widow
McCaun. He lives with her at the
present time, conversing readily with
her and her daughter, now Mrs. Pudg
ley. A single incident will illustrate
how he communicates with them.
A gentleman recently desired to bry
one Of his revolvers, and he called upon
Dummy" and the latter's wife. He
made his offer to them and inquired il
1t was accepted.
"I'll take him one side and see what
he says about it," she replied to the
visitor. Then dummy" and his wife
went out near an clubhouse, beyond
hearing but the visitor could see
''Dummy's' lips moving ard the pail
in evident conversation. Upon their
return the woman accepted the offer in
her husbands name. He can not con,
verse with his wife in auother's pres
ence. His hearing and understanding
are normal, and the two persons he car
talk to say he manifests no difficulty
in expressing himself to them clearly
nor in enunciation. Mr.. Ryder, foI
whom he works, in common with al
others who have had relations with
him, pronounces him good workman
faithful, telligent, comprehendine
readily eve y tiing required of him
brit doomed to- general dumbness by al
inexorable law antedating his birth. A
physician who takes great interest II
the case and has examined "Dummy's'
throat, explains his physiological diff
ficulties as follows:
"There is always nervous excitement
attendant upon his efforcs to speak be
fore 81 'angers. In ordinary speech the
epiglott;s is distended and the ,ibra
tory chords are expanded. In his cast
they do not respond to the will. A
sort of paralysis exists. In the a5
sence of nervous excitement they
would act normally and speech would
follow"
This is the pathological view, but i
does explain why speech is vouca
safed only in addressing those his moth
er favored just previous to his birth
1t does not explain the preternatura
phases, which puzzle physiologists ant
scientists alike, and are the wonder O.
townsmen and strangers.
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